What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMyristyl Myristate
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Myristyl Myristate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, C14-22 Alcohols, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Arachidyl Alcohol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Squalane, Arachidyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Saccharide Isomerate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantEnantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingMyristyl Malate Phosphonic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Methoxyethyl Acrylate Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCoco-Glucoside
CleansingPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Triethanolamine
BufferingWater, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Oleanolic Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Oleate, Sorbitan Laurate, Myristyl Malate Phosphonic Acid, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Methoxyethyl Acrylate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Glucoside, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Zinc PCA, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Triethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water